A CHARITY box set up to send two Loughborough teenagers on holiday after they lost both their parents to cancer has been stolen.

The box was taken from the Post Office, in Sharpley Road, Loughborough, between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, October 19.

Julie Patterson, of New Ashby Road, who set up the collection after the two girls, aged 14 and 17, lost their parents, called the theft "a tragedy."

She said: "Their mum died a few years ago and then their father died last month. Both of them don't even live together now and I just wanted to give them something nice like a holiday."

Miss Patterson was aiming to collect a couple of hundred pounds for the two girls and received much support from residents in the area.

She added: "We had more than s100 in the box and I feel so sad and angry that someone would do something like this."

Post office staff said that the box had been placed in the store to drum up support for the cause and had been taken on Saturday when the post office part of the shop was closed. Staff suspect thieves had carried out the theft while backs were turned.

Anyone with any information can contact Loughborough police on 0116 222 2222.